The Syrian Army and its allies are reportedly advancing in southeastern Aleppo.<br /><br /> An opposition spokesman says rebel fighters face the choice of “death or surrender”.<br /><br /> Large numbers of civilians are said to be under heavy bombardment.<br /><br /> Aleppo’s besieged rebel enclave was pounded by heavy shelling and air raids from midnight on Saturday.<br /><br /> A reporter with the Reuters news agency says the explosions were coming at a rate of more than one a minute.<br /><br /> Gunfire was also heard.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> Aleppo rebel zone facing 'death or surrender': rebel official https://t.co/wA1yHc18Xc pic.twitter.com/fJRVTLT28p— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) December 11, 2016<br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Reported gains<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> A Syrian military source said the army and its allies had captured the al-Asila and Aaajam districts southeast of Aleppo’s ancient citadel.<br /><br /> The southern part of the Karam al-Daadaa neighbourhood has also reportedly been taken.<br /><br /> The army also seized the al-Maadi district on Sunda morning.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Refugees<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Thousands of refugees are still pouring from the areas of fighting.<br /><br /> The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says more than 120,000 civilians left the city as the government advance closed in.<br /><br /> However, tens of thousands remain.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Why is Aleppo important?<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> The fall of the whole city to President Bashar al-Assad would bring him the biggest victory yet after nearly six years of civil war.<br /><br /> However, Assad would still be far from restoring government control over the entire country.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Aleppo – who is fighting who?<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Assad’s forces are supported by Russian air power, Iran and Shi’ite militias from Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan.<br /><br /> Together, they have helped to turn the tide of conflict his way after he seemed to be on the back foot in mid-2015.<br /><br /> The mostly-Sunni rebels include groups supported by the US, Turkey and Gulf monarchies.<br /><br /> There are also some jihadist factions that receive no assistance from the West.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Talks continue<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Russian and US officials met in Geneva on Sunday for more talks on an elusive deal for civilians and fighters to leave the city.<br /><br /> There has reportedly been no word on their progress.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Palmyra<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> ISIL fighters staged a surprise assault on Palmyra over the weekend.<br /><br /> The UK-based monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the militants recaptured the ancient city on Sunday after re-entering it on Saturday.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> What they are saying<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> “The result will certainly be a complete end of the district, in a tragic way,” – a Turkish-based official from the Jabha Shamiya rebel group in Aleppo.<br /><br /> “Embrace death for Aleppo!” – graffiti on a wall in the city’s ancient citadel.<br />
